Position Statements

The Role of Energy from Waste in a Circular Economy – Creating a stable project structure

In August 2019, the Australian Industrial Ecology Network (AIEN) issued a communiqué urging State Governments, the resource recovery industry and all stakeholders to find a unified voice on the issue of Energy from Waste (EfW) in Australia, and its importance in the context of a circular economy.

Within the concept of a circular economy, the AIEN recognises the need for recovery of materials prior to assessing opportunities for EfW technologies, with already well-established and emerging processes and supply chains available for the recycling/reuse of mixed plastics, rubber, glass, timber and aggregates – among others – as valuable resources in higher value-added product markets. In this report, the AIEN sets out a number of recommendations in relation to the requisite ‘five pillars’ for success for an EfW project in Australia.

Accelerating the Transition to a Circular Economy: A blueprint for action on plastics and packaging

In October 2018, the Australian Industrial Ecology Network (AIEN) issued a communiqué calling for prioritised action with respect to facilitating circular economy in Australia.

Accelerating the Transition to a Circular Economy: A blueprint for action on plastics and packaging calls for a shift in existing resource management frameworks and policies to encourage manufacturers, distributors, importers and others closely involved with the waste and resource management sector to accept “waste” as a valuable resource in higher value-added product markets rather than, a negative value problematic substance destined for landfill.